Tuesday Treats 53: Garage Bikes Revisited

Your once a week dose of retail therapy from Singletrack’s Premier Dealers, stockists and advertisers.

Tuesday Treats gives you a quality serving of independent bike retailing and a chance to win big in this week’s prize draw.

This week, we revisit Garage Bikes.

We’ve been getting reacquainted with some of the guys, who nearly a year ago, helped us launch the Tuesday Treats feature. Let’s get straight to it. Al and partner Sarah at Garage Bikes pick up where we left off this time last August…

New paint, more space, same great service and a social media friendly shop dog

Apart from the obvious… we’re all a year wiser, what’s changed in the last year?

Ooh lets see now, not that much. We had to take on next door for storage, as we’re so busy. We’ve window dressed the outside of the shop to get rid of that awful turquoise. Our sponsored rider Amy Baron Hall won this years Mountain Mayhem (Female Solo Category). We also became West Yorkshire’s only authorised Fox Suspension Maintenance Centre.

Sarah leads a very successful Ladies only shop ride every third Saturday straight from the shop.

We also have a mixed shop ride every third Sunday too which has never failed to be a good giggle yet. Oh and shhh… don’t say it too loudly but we have our first shop road ride coming up too. See our website, or check our Twitter for details of all shop rides.

Any new lines in-store that really tickle your fancy?

Renthal rings and handlebars are a staff favourite, as are POC helmets. We’re also huge fans of Schwalbe tyres and anything Hope do.

More Hope Tech shininess than a Lancastrian shoe shiner’s polishing machine

What is hot, product-wise this summer?

Handlebars! Seems the good folk of South Leeds and beyond have come around to the understanding “the wider the better”. We also do a good chunk of tubeless conversions.

What’s your current best-selling/hottest product?

The ever ubiquitous Schwalbe AV13 26″ inner tubes. Otherwise the Renthal Fatbar lites at the bling end of the spectrum.

Now you’ve got all this space, what’s the score with demo bikes and custom builds?

We’re still an Ibis dealer and the new HDR is luvverly. I’m trying to convince Sarah I *need* one, so I can tell people exactly how great they are. Our mechanic Joe just built a HD 160 to replace his DH rig with something he can still ride bloody hard but actually pedal up things too.

Joe hard at work. ‘Listen Al, I ain’t growing no sideburns sucker!’

http://vimeo.com/singletrackmag/garagebikes

Any events that are worth the effort, travel and pain/joy?

The Shop ladies ride regulars had a riot at Stilletos On Wheels 2013 and Sarah and I raced (in the loosest possible sense) Singletrack Enduro 6 and that was superb too.

Now for some crystal ball gazing. Where are we all headed; a forth wheel size? The return of bar ends?!

Simple. Purple anodising!

Anything else you want to mention?

Advice is always free, cake always generates discount and don’t get me started on the wheel size debate.

Lastly, what do Singletrack Premier Subscribers get from you guys?

10% off all repairs and servicing. 5% off parts, accessories and clothing.